Police Fatally Shoot Woman at Omaha Walmart After Alleged Child Abduction and Assault

On Tuesday, Omaha police fatally shot a woman outside a Walmart after she allegedly attacked a young boy with a knife, following an apparent abduction from inside the store.

According to Deputy Chief Scott Gray, the suspect confronted a female shopper and a child, estimated to be around 2 or 3 years old. She brandished a large knife, reportedly stolen from the store, and "took possession of the child, essentially kidnapping the child," Gray stated.

In a tense situation, the suspect instructed the woman to walk ahead of her with the child at knifepoint. They exited the store and moved down a driveway, where they engaged in "some verbal back and forth" for several minutes until police arrived, Gray explained.

Responding to a 911 call, officers arrived at the scene and issued commands to the suspect. However, she began "swiping the knife at the child, cutting him across the face," Gray noted, adding that this violent act was captured on video. An officer then discharged their weapon, resulting in the suspect's death at the scene.

Body-worn camera footage released by police shows the woman raising the knife over the boy, who was seated in a shopping cart, as an officer aimed their firearm at her.

The injured child was transported to a hospital with a "rather large laceration" on the left side of his face and one of his hands. Fortunately, he is expected to survive his injuries.

The motive behind the suspect's actions remains unclear. Gray indicated that the two women were strangers to each other, and it was not immediately known what connection existed between the boy and his caretaker. The identity of the suspect has not yet been disclosed.

Police are currently reviewing surveillance footage from inside the store. Gray characterized the incident as isolated, noting that the Walmart was mostly empty during the investigation.

He added that the behavior of those involved might not have raised alarms among other shoppers. "They kind of just purposely but casually walk out of the store, so I don't think anybody was actually looking at them as being a suspect of anything," Gray remarked.

The police-involved shooting will be investigated by Omaha police with assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol and the Sarpy County Sheriff's Office.